Vegas, Baby!

Our Vegas Vacation!

Last month we decided to take our family vacation in Vegas.  It was a fairly quick drive and I had never been before.  We had a great time relaxing at our resort as well as checking out all the sites. 

The Hoover Dam

Here is the new bridge at the Hoover Dam.  This was definitely one of the highlights for Shaun.  Unfortunately we were about a month early because the bridge was not open.  It is supposed to open later this month. 

 Relaxing at the Resort

We chose to stay at a resort at the very end of the strip that did not have a casino.  It was very nice, quite, relaxing, and made for families!  They had lots of little swimming areas for the kids and a lazy river.

Taking in the Sites

We did A LOT of waling while in Vegas and pretty much saw most of the casinos.  Here are some highlights of what we did.

Here we are at the MGM Grand having dinner with Shaun's college roommate, Berger.  He just happened to be in town for a bachelor party the same weekend we were there, so we got to catch up over dinner.  What a small world!

The Mirage

At The Mirage we spent a morning walking around Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.  We had a wonderful time watching the dolphins swim and play. The Dolphin Habitat had areas where you could enjoy them from both above and below the water.  Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden had white tigers, white lions, and other exotic cats.  I think our favorite were the 14 week old baby white tigers.  They caught everyone's attention as they chased after ropes and played just like baby kitten will do!

The Dolphins

 Larkin watching the dolphins from the underwater observatory

A little game of catch

The Secret Garden

The white lions enjoying a little nap.

Larkin and Daddy posing in front of the baby tigers. 

Unfortunately, the tiger cubs decided to move before the picture was taken!

Mommy and Brayden checking out the lions.

 Ethel's Chocolate Factory and Botanical Garden
Well it was no Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory, but there was still plenty of chocolate!  One morning we drove a little way off of the strip to find this chocolate factory and take a tour.  While driving we debated if anyone even toured chocolate factories.  Sure enough, as we pulled into the drive we followed four giant tour buses.  I guess everyone loves chocolate!  Outside of the factory was a botanical garden.  It was pretty much just like being at home, filled with cacti and other desert plants.  We even saw a lizard or two scurry by.  You have got to love the desert!

 M&M World
28,000 square feet of M&Ms, of course we had to see that!

Larkin posing in front of the M&M race car.

If you look closely you will see that this sign is made entirely out of M&Ms!

 The Bellagio

Picture time in the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

 Paris, Paris

Mandalay Bay
At Mandalay Bay we went to the Shark Reef and Aquarium.  They had all sorts of sharks, sting rays, jelly fish, and many other fish to observe.  One of the highlights was watching them feed raw chicken to the piranhas.  Those things are fast!

Here Larkin is checking out the sharks as they swam all around us.

 Outdoor Tree House and Play Area
One of the outdoor shopping centers had a great children's area.  After a yummy lunch at Claim Jumper we headed here to play for a bit.  Larkin had fun going through the maze, climbing through the giant tree house, and watching the kids play in the splash area.  The area was enclosed so those kiddies won't escape and out front they even had a huge lawn with fake grass for families to picnic on and play! 

Shaun and Larkin making their way through the maze. 

I think Shaun might have been cheating a little bit, since it was only about 4 feet high!

Play time at the park.

The Casinos

We actually had a great time just walking through all of the casinos and seeing what they had to offer.  The weather was beautiful and we got plenty of exercise!  Here were some of our favorites:

The Bellagio

Caesar's Palace

Paris, Paris

The Mirage

We are waiting to watch the volcano in the background erupt.

Catching up with the rest of summer

July and August were lots of fun!  Brayden tried lots of new things, Larkin continued to entertain us every day, and Shaun had a birthday.  Here are some of the things that happened around the Grimm house.

Breakfast time for Brayden.  He loved that cereal! 

I don't think he knew that it would get even better. 

 Daddy turns the big 32!

Brayden getting ready for a little workout!  If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball. 

Got to love that headband.

TV time with Daddy

 Naptime Part 1: 

For some reason Larkin does not always think naptime should happen in her bed.  Here we found her sleeping on the floor outside our room.

Naptime Part 2

Picture Time

In August Brayden turned 6 months old, so we decided to have a few pictures taken.  I can't believe how big they are getting.  Here are a few pictures that our fantastic neighbor, Brianna, took for us.  She did a great job!

4th of July

4th of July in California!

This summer we decided to pack up the kids and take Brayden on his first real road trip.  We headed to Aunt Jackie and Uncle Gary's for the holiday weekend.  The trip was just under 5 hours and went great.  Larkin enjoyed watching DVDs most of the way and Brayden pretty much slept!

A New Tradition

Last summer we spent the 4th in Vermont and had to go to the annual parade.  So this year we had to try again so we headed to the parade in Corona.  Really if you have seen one parade you have seen them all (especially if you ask Shaun), but we had beautiful weather and enjoyed a morning outside!

Daddy and Larkin getting ready for the parade to begin

Mommy and Brayden enjoying the cool weather

An Evening at the ballpark!

While we were in California we witnessed a rare event.  We went to the Angels vs. Royals game and actually saw Kansas City win!!!!

Brayden enjoying his first baseball game with Aunt Jackie

Mommy and Larkin having fun at the stadium

Just Hanging Around

One of the best parts of our mini-vacation was just getting to relax and spend some time with our wonderful family.  The weather was perfect and we spent much of the weekend outside, just playing around.  What a great time!

Larkin having fun with her stuffed animals.  The whole organizing thing she definitely gets from her daddy.

Having fun with the water toys

Outside fun on the activity mat.  Who would have thought a toy could be so interesting!

Brayden and Daddy relaxing by the pool

Larkin loves to entertain her little brother.  They are so cute together!

A Trip to Kansas City

Memorial Day in Kansas

At the end of May we headed back to Kansas for a week.  It was Brayden's first plane ride and a chance to introduce him to many of our friends and family. 

A Trip to Gage Park

We spent the day with Grandma and Grandpa.  Larkin had a blast going on the train and walking her grandparents around the zoo!

Larkin and Brayden with Grandma and Grandpa

It's family photo time!

Good Times with Old Friends!

Our good friend, Abby, was nice enough to let us crash at her house for the week. It was wonderful having all that baby stuff around and getting to catch up with some friends.

  Here are Brayden and Lily hanging out for the afternoon.

Larkin and Brayden enjoying a little Daddy time before he headed off to help BJ out with his new house.

A Day at Deanna Rose

So Deanna Rose is one of the coolest kid places we have been.  It is pretty much a giant petting zoo filled with places to feed the animals, spots to fish, horses to ride, and lots of play areas.  Not to mention that most days of the week it is free of charge.

Larkin and Noah BEFORE we got to Deanna Rose.  They must have known it would be a long day!

Feeding the goats

Posing for a picture in the flower garden

A Trip to Wonder Scope

Wonder Scope is another cool place we stumbled upon.  It is an old school that has been turned into an activity center for kids.  Each room has a different theme and kids get to explore many different activities.  I am not sure if the kids or the dads had more fun that day!

Mia, Larkin, and Brayden in the art room

Daddy helping out at art time

Fun in the motion room

Larkin and Daddy seeing which loop is faster

Brayden had some fun too!

Larkin carrying around her basket of veggies in the market place

Daddy and BJ watching their little girls shop

Family Time

We also got to spend lots of time with family. Larkin and Brayden had a great time hanging out with their cousins, Aunt Tara and Uncle Dan. The cousins LOVED having the little kids around. Sure wish they lived closer!

BBQ night for Uncle Dan's birthday

Larkin playing with Kaycee and Garrett

Another Trip to the Zoo!

Well we had plenty of time outdoors while we were in Kansas.  Here we are at the Kansas City Zoo.  It was a nice way to spend Memorial Day with both our friends and our family!

BJ and Mia enjoying the elephants

Larkin, Abby, and Lily taking a little break

Trying to round up our whole group!

Mia and Larkin checking out the lions

Larkin's first carousel ride

More animals to feed